Coupling device for lowering-chains.



No. 668,504. Patented Feb. I9, I90I. C J. DIETRICH.

CDUPLING DEVICE FCR LCWERING CHAINS.

- (Appxmtimmedqun 2s, 1900.) (No Model.)

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NITE STATES TENT einen..

O JOSEPH DIETRICH, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS.

COUPLING DEVICE FOR LOWERING-CHAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,504, dated February 19, 1901.

Application led June 23, 1900.

To a/ZZ whom t may concern;

Be it known that I, C JOSEPH DIETRICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Grange, in the county of Oook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Coupling Device forLowerng-Ohains, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention is an improved coupling device for lowering chains or ropes employed in lowering caskets or any parcels or packages into wells, vaults, or other places, the object of my invention being to provide an improved coupling device which is automatically operat ed by the weight of the casket or package when it reaches the bottom of the well or vault in which it is being lowered, so as to disengage the lowering chains or ropes and prermit of their being withdrawn for further use.

My invention is particularly useful in connection with the chains used for lowering caskets into graves by means of burial apparatus, a type of which is shown and described in my application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 734,370, filed October 21, 1899.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a coupling device embodying my improvements, showing the parts thereof coupled to secure the lowering-chains together. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the same, showing the parts uncoupled to separate the lowering-chains. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line a ct of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view on a plane at right angles to said line ctc..

The coupling members 1 2 are attached to the ends of the lowering-chains. The inember 2 is formed of a single metallic strap bent substantially in the form of thev letter U to form open jaws 3, which are adapted to receive the coupling member 1. Said coupling members 1 2 are provided with centrally-disposed openings 4 5, respectively, which openings register with each other when the members are in position to be coupled. On the upper side of the coupling member 2 is secured a transversely-disposed bar 6, the ends of which project laterally beyond the sides of the coupling member 2. The said bar may manner on the coupling member 2. ends of the said bar 6/ are secured substan- Serial No. 21,339. (No model.)

be riveted or secured in any other suitable 'Io the tially U-shaped springs 7, which are disposed at right angles thereto and have their free upper arms disposed over the ends of the cross-bar 6. The latter is provided on its lower side with depending osets 8 of suitable depth. A locking-yoke 9 is disposed on the upper side of the cross-bar 6 and has at its center a depending lock-pin 10, which is adapted to pass through the registering openings 4 5 of the coupling members and lock the same together, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. The said yoke 9 is provided near its end with depending operating-pins 11, which are guided in openings in the offsets 8 and are somewhat in excess of said offsets in length. It is desirable to prevent the locking-yoke from becoming detached from the cross-bar 6, and to effect lthis object I have shown the pins 11 as provided at their lower ends with enlarged heads 12, which are adapted to it in countersinks 13 in the lower sides of the offsets 8.

The operation of myinvention is as follows: The lowering-chains are coupled together before placing the load on them, the springs 7 yielding under the load, so that the latter rests directly upon the locking-yoke 9. When the load has been lowered to the bottom of the well, hold, or other place, the pins 11 by engagement with the bottom arrest the descent of the locking-yoke, and the coupling inembers continuing to descend by gravity after the locking-yoke has been arrested the locking-pin 10 is withdrawn from the registering openings 4 5, thereby uncoupling the members 1 2 and releasing the lowering chains or ropes, so that the same, together with the coupling members, may be withdrawn and reused. When my coupling device is used in connection with a burial apparatus for lowering a casket into a grave, strips of wood of suitable thickness should be placed in the bottom of the rough boX, near the ends thereof, before placing the casket on the loweringchains, so that the casket when lowered will rest upon the strips at a slight distance above the bottom of the rough box and permit of the disengagement and withdrawal of the coupling members with the lowering-chains.

ICO

The springs 7 are employed to depress the coupling members under all conditions after the casket has been lowered onto the strip in the bottom of the rough-box, it being understood that the springs by coaotion with the bottom of the casket will force the coupling members downward after the descent of the looking-yoke has been arrested by the engagement of the pins 11 with the bottom of the rough box. The shape and disposition of the springs 7 are sueh as to facilitate the withdrawal of the coupling member 2 from under the casket.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the coupling members having registering openings, a lookingyoke disposed transversely on one of said coupling members and adapted for independent vertical movement thereon, said yoke having a depending locking-pin to engage the registering openings of the coupling members, and springs extending above said yoke for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the coupling members having registering openings, ofthe locking-yoke having a looking-pin to engage said registering openings of the coupling members, and springs to depress said coupling members independently of said yokes, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the coupling members having registering openings, a lockingyoke disposed transversely on one of said coupling members and adapted for independent vertical movement thereon, said yoke having a depending locking-pin to engage the registering openings of the coupling members and U-shaped springs having the free upper arms disposed above the yoke, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the coupling members having registering openings, one of said members having the cross-bar on its upper side and the springs extending above said cross-bar, a vertically-movable yoke on said erossbar having the depending pins 1l and the depending lockingpin, the latter engaging said registering openings of said coupling members, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

C JOSEPH DIETRICH.

Witnesses:

E. MCCARTY, W. C. HUNTER. 

